If you were about to be poor, what would you spend your money on now?

[TargetPractice11]

To make life easier when your income drops?

We have some savings that can be spent on things that will save money in the long run get term.

I've just bought a slow cooker, for example. And I'm thinking about getting our windows upgraded to save on bills.

You should have an EPC for your home as you moved recently. Read the detail, what does it say can be improved? Draft proofing generally is the best return on investment. Loft insulation may not be up to modern standards and it is often worth adding more. Lights should always be energy efficient ones and consider if you can reduce the brightness of any of them. Dont leave things on standby. Replacing windows is often not cost effective but you can put bubble wrap on them in winter for cheap extra insulation.

A facelift. At least I’d be happy with my face when poverty sets in!

So the only reason he is working PT in lower paid job is because that’s the only job he fancied. That is the definition of a luxury.

I agree with PPs. You have a MASSIVE DH problem.

They're safe, they don't really get hot enough to burn anything. Mine has a timer and a cover, but you could use a sheet to cover and a cheap plug in timer. I run mine for a few hours in the evening then it's switched off and the things continue to dry overnight in the residual heat. I'd worry if I ran it overnight, though many people do that without any issues.

They also slightly warm the room they're in and our good dehumidifier stops mould and makes the house feel a few degrees warmer in Winter, so we only use heating or the woodburner when it's really cold.

From your update, maybe look at each of your strengths and allocate responsibilities along those lines. My DH isn't great with practical and financial things, but he's a really hard worker and great with kids, so we divide family responsibilities accordingly. Your DH needs to consider what he can bring to the plate too. It will help his self-esteem as well as your relationship and your family life in general.

Don't spend money on windows unless you absolutely have to - it's a huge expense. You would be better hanging thick blankets over your curtains.
Is your roof insulated? Are your walls insulated? Both much cheaper and more effective for keeping in heat.
Look at all your providers to ensure you are on the best tariff.
Stop all non essential direct debits.

I would get your DH to write a formal letter to his former employers setting out expectations that he is owed £x and that he should be paid ASAP. Having some sort of documentation will be key if they have to sell assets.
By the sounds of it he might not get anything but he has to stake his claim.

if you must have a dryer get a heat pump one as they are about half the cost to run as other tumble dryer.

I keep telling him to but he says there is no point because they know they owe him money, but the money isn't there to give him.

This is such an odd mindset - why would spending money now help? Are you addicted to shopping (genuine question, some people are) or using it as a way to avoid the stress of the situation?.

Don’t spend the money, save it to give yourself a buffer in case something else goes wrong, or use it to pay down some of your mortgage.

If your husband is bad with money, he needs to follow a meal plan, learn to hang out washing, and make up for his short failings.
Why is he ignorant?
sounds like he could be a big drain on life

Honestly. At this point I'd be saying with your circumstances, the cut backs I'd make is on my bills and with food.

Like you have, I'd purchase a slow cooker and maybe a rice cooker, make having those meals at home really simple.

I'd take everything back to basics to see where money can be saved, and have a sort out, put stuff in vented and ebay.

Make your second job an absolute non negotiable with your husband. You will do it for 3-6 months but he needs to figure out a plan after that.

I’m a bit unconventional but I’ve bought a camper van in case I ever become homeless. Well I’ve bought it to hopefully improve my mental health but long term it’s security. I have a vague plan to buy a narrowboat in the future.

@TargetPractice11 if you are about to be poor surely not spending money is the best way forward

The post feels confusing. To me . You mentioned about a slow cooker than I'm guess cost less to run. Cam maybe batch cook a little or simlar.

Then you go to the other extreme of saying you would like to replace all the windows which sounds like a massive spend.

I do wounder if a lower income is different from 1 family to another like I would. Say low income would be where you have to really juggle things to pay for basic things like food gas electric. Basic clothing, rent etc .your always chasing your tail. No clubs for the children. Free or very cheap days out. Very little savings msybs 200-500 which never actually stays there as a large bill ends up coming in.

But to another family a struggle could be there were 3 after school activities and they had to cut 1 or 2 out. Maybe had to down grade from waittrose to sainsburys. May have had to use a bit of the savings . May be less disposable income than there used to be.

Don’t get a chest freezer they’re a pia. Get an upright full height freezer with drawers. So much more convenient.

Insulation - if not already done - loft, walls under floors.

Personally I think an instant pot is better than a slow cooker alone as it does both fast ie pressure and slow. If you can return the slow cooker I would and replace it.

Why does your husband get to choose to do the only job he "wants" to do which is part time while you have to work full time plus a night job, when he's not going to be doing his share of domestic work at home and the current financial crisis in your household is of his making.

It's pretty clear it's not you who should be doing a second job, but him, unless he can be trusted with doing the cooking (including the mental load part of meal planning taking into account what you already have in the house and the budget), shopping and laundry on the same budget you do them on!

Recently made redundant from 1 of 2 jobs. As a result my income will temporarily drop 50% from August but I expect to pick up freelance work quite easily from Sept. I was paid 6 months redundancy pay and used some of this this to get..

• Amazon prime for a year
• a small air fryer on sale.
• An Apple Watch (old version) to replace a dying fit bit
• also spent £100 getting my wedding ring (inherited) resized.
• A new pair of trainers that were 50% off that I had my eye on last year.

I will use the voucher I received as a leaving gift for Waitrose food shops to balance out some of the above. I worked for 17 years at the company and want to spend some the money on nice things to mark that. I appreciate I am privileged to be able to do so and also still have a stable income from my other work.

Actually, thinking about it, the two things I would buy are a good dehumidifier and a Ninja air fryer 15-in-one thing, including slow cooker, pressure cooker etc. Mine saves us so much energy and time compared to using the oven. I tracked energy costs when I first bought it and it paid for itself in a year.

There are cheaper multi cookers but (IMO) I don't think any at this price point come close to the ninja for ease of use and taste of the cooked food.

Oh I have also reduced phone contract to lowest possible amount £17 with EE. Sold an old laptop on eBay and did a current account switch to earn £185. These might be things to think about doing if not already?

I would save, rather than spend

And, get into habit of drying laundry indoors, instead of using a tumble dryer

Slow cooker is good idea. You can batch cook curries and mexican food etc, to avoid being tempted to get takeaways

I’m paying £7 a month with O2. I bought my £150 Motorola a couple of years ago.

I would save up as much as possible before you take the dip then you can fund the things you actually need rather than the things you think you might need

I wouldn’t spend anything. If there’s a local community fridge go there before food shopping. Start being really careful with water, electricity and gas. Aim to cut bills.
The American system of canning food is better than freezing but requires equipment and time.
If he won’t write to his company you do it and make him sign it. He could also get a second job

They couldn't prove that the boiler didn't need replacing.
You can spend on essential house repairs, in some cases a years bus pass, or if disabled, car costs. You could justify lap top etc if it would help the possibility of getting work or training.
OP I've found a second fridge freezer has saved me money. You can batch cook and stock up on cheaper deals, 3-4-£10 on meat etc. I found a dry buddy cheaper than dryer. Just get the children to drink water and eat cheaply, more beans/pulses/legumes/lentils etc in recipes. Don't spend money unnecessarily. Just plan Christmas, you'll all need it by December.

Free hanging thick curtain linings to help keep the heat in.

Tell him to do it anyway. I had an employer go under owing me lots and I nearly didn’t bother filing a claim as they owed so many people and suppliers but I guess lots didn’t bother and I ended up getting significantly more than I expected (not all, but some is better than none)